Crime & Punishment of Tuesday, 22 August 2006

Source: GNA

Four fake currency suspects to face court

Kumasi, Aug 22, GNA - Four persons arrested by the police in Kumasi on Wednesday for alleged possession of fake currency are to be put before court on August 22.

George Gyasi, alias Burkina, 43, beer bar operator at Bolgatanga, Amida Yahaya, 49, embroidery designer from Salaga, Donald Dhiking, 67, a former navigator from Kyebi and Owusu Boateng, 46, car dealer from Asante-Juaben are to face charges of conspiracy, printing, possession and altering of currency.

Briefing the press on Monday, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Frank Adu-Poku, Ashanti Regional Police Commander, said the police had information that the group was printing fake currency notes in Kumasi.

He said Gyasi aided by Yahaya collected cash 27,000 US dollars from a complainant, George Oppong under the pretext of giving him 372 million CFA francs but the complainant later realising that the group was a "419" syndicate reported the case to the police.

ACP Adu-Poku said when Gyasi was arrested in his house at Bremang, a suburb of Kumasi, plain papers cut into the sizes of 10,000-cedi notes and 100-dollar notes were retrieved from him.

He said Yahaya was also arrested at Aboabo and several black papers cut into the sizes of 10,000-cedi notes and 100 dollar notes were found on him in addition to fake 10,000 CFA franc notes.

The Regional Police Commander said after their arrest they mentioned the names of Dhiking and Boateng as accomplices and they were also arrested.